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We like to think that we are an extraordinary practice that is all about you - your potential, your comfort, your health, and your individuality. You are important to us and we strive to ......more

We like to think that we are an extraordinary practice that is all about you - your potential, your comfort, your health, and your individuality. You are important to us and we strive to help you in every and any way that we can.

Cancer, or the big C, is always in the news. Use any keyword related to cancer, and there is definitely information overload. Also, with more people surviving cancer, there are too many tales to tell. All this leads to misconceptions and myths, leaving people, who are looking for genuine information, completely confused. The following are some common misconceptions.

Cancer is a new-age disease: There is reference to cancer in ancient Egyptian and Greek stories, so cancer is definitely not new. However, it is true that the incidence has increased tremendously with the modern lifestyle habits.

Food items prevent cancer: There are claims that food items like kale, blueberries, green tea, broccoli, etc., can prevent cancer. It is not true. They do have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but are not helpful in preventing cancer.

Acidic diet causes cancer: The body’s pH is not determined by the food products that we consume. Neither acidic nor alkaline environment is healthy, and further, the body has its own mechanism to regulate pH; so go ahead and eat what you like.

Sugars cause cancer:Sugar, believed to be the main energy source, is required for growth. Since cancer is linked to uncontrolled growth, it is believed that more sugar leads to more cancer. This again is a false notion, as there is no connection between the two.

Screening is only for breast cancer: Agreed, breast cancer is easy to screen for, but any person with predisposition can go for periodic screening to help in early identification and intervention.

Cancer medicines kill more than they cure: Whether it is chemotherapy or radiation, they do not pick only the cancer cells. When directed at a body part, the radiation affects the entire area. Chemotherapy targets and controls growth of a lot of normal processes, thereby affecting normal life.

There is no cure for cancer: It is not a simple process. Curing cancer involves multiple facets – some of which may not be known or unearthed. While there are some stories, which talk about how they conquered cancer completely, there are a greater number of failures. Do not conclude on either side. Each person and each type of cancer is treated differently.

Tight undergarments are not connected to cancer: As popularly advertised, tight underwear and underwired bras do not cause testicular or breast cancer.

Biopsies spread cancer: This is a misconception. Most people are scared to get a biopsy as they perceive that it may spread the cancerous cells to normal areas.

This is just a short list, and there are far too many false notions. Check with your doctor to validate the information before using it to take any decision.

With the modernization of all economies around the world, one health hazard that has become one of the largest perils within both developed and developing nations is the incidence of cancers of the female reproductive system, especially cervical and breast cancer.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the formation of malignant tumors within the breast tissues of a woman. Usually, breast cancer affects women in the age range of 40 to 50, but there have been many reports of it occurring earlier. About 48 % percent of the Indian women having breast cancer have been reported to be under 50. This is an almost 17 percent jump compared to figures 25 years earlier.

Alarming Signs of Breast Cancer:

The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A painless, hard mass that has irregular edges is more likely to be cancerous, but breast cancers can be tender, soft, or rounded.

Swelling of all or part of a breast (even if no distinct lump is felt)

Mammography: US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends mammography once in every 2 year for females between age group 50-75 years. Women with a family history has a benefit of starting at age 40 years. After 75 years there are insufficient evidence of benefit of screening mammography.

Breast Self Examination and annual Clinical examination: breast self examination is easy to learn and and any abnormality should be reported to the oncologist.

For High Risk/ Genetic risk factors: screening should start by age 25 or 10 years earlier of youngest relative affected. Annual mammogram and MRI or Doppler ultrasound alternating at 6 month interval can be considered.

Treatment Options:

Some of the common treatment options for breast cancers are:

Breast conservation surgery - This is where the tumors are removed without cutting out too much of the surrounding breast tissue.

Mastectomy - If the cancer has spread too far then large amounts of breast tissue has to be removed along with the tumor to stop its spread any further.

Sentinel lymph node Biopsy - it's part of both surgical procedures, it decreases morbidities of lymph node dissection first draining lymph nodes only are removed in patients with clinically negative axilla. If negative on frozen section further axillary dissection is avoided. It avoids the morbidity of complete axillary clearance.

Cervical cancer is the cancer of the cervix, which is the opening of the uterus and connects the uterus to the vagina. Indian women in particular are susceptible to cervical cancer as more than 1/3rd of the cervical cancer related deaths in the entire world happens here in India, which is about 74000 deaths annually. The leading cause for cervical cancer is HPV or Human Papillomavirus infection, which if left untreated and unchecked will result in cancer.

Alarming Signs of Cervical Carcinoma:

Early lesions and precancerous lesions have no symptoms

Abnormal vaginal bleeding such as bleeding after vaginal intercourse, bleeding after menopause, bleeding and spotting between periods or longer/heavier periods

Starting in the ovaries, diagnosis of this type of cancer is usually delayed due to lack of visible symptoms in the initial stages. About 85% to 90% of ovarian cancers are epithelial ovarian carcinomas. Epithelial ovarian cancers tend to spread to the lining and organs of the pelvis and abdomen (belly) first. This may lead to the buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity (called ascites). As it advances, it may spread to the lung and liver, or, rarely, to the brain, bones, or skin. The main treatments for ovarian cancer are surgery and chemotherapy.

Cancer of the endometrium (Carcinoma Endometrium)

Endometrium is the lining of the uterine wall and has along with ovarian, uterine and cervical cancer is also increasing in occurrences throughout India and the world.

The grade of an endometrial cancer is based on how much the cancer forms glands that look similar to those found in normal, healthy endometrium.

Grade 1 tumors have 95% or more of the cancerous tissue forming glands.

Grade 2 tumors have between 50% and 94% of the cancerous tissue forming glands.

Grade 3 tumors have less than half of the cancerous tissue forming glands. Grade 3 cancers tend to be aggressive and have a poorer outlook than lower-grade cancers.

Treatment Options:

Cervical cancer along with Ovarian, uterine and endometrial cancer can be treated using the following methods:

1. Surgery: Radical Hysterectomy primarily preferred option for early stage disease. Both open and minimal invasive approaches are suitable.

For precancer high grade lesion conisation is also option for compliant patient.

In young suitable patient willing for childbearing trachelectomy is also possible in very early lesion.

Depending on risk factors after surgery adjuvant treatment may be advised.

2. Radiation therapy or Combined Radiation therapy+Chemotherapy: Alternative to surgery in early stage and choice in late stage.

Prevention:

Certain prevention techniques that would be advisable to detect cancer in its early stages would be,

Dear Bhavya,
I understand you are talking of ovarian tumors. I am surprised how you got the diagnosis which you can get only after biopsy. If that was done then the tumor could have been removed. To understand the complete details It is necessary to get all the details after which it can be suggested whether to get chemotherapy or not.

Dear,
There are many drugs available for management of prostate cancer. It is mostly hormone sensitive and is treated by androgen deprivation for which there are many drugs. If these do not work then chemotherapeutic drugs which you are mentioning are tried. Every doctor has his own view. So follow the doctor who is an Established Oncologist.

Studies of stem cell therapy for bladder dysfunction have been limited to experimental models and have been less focused on tissue engineering for bladder regeneration. Bladder outlet obstruction is a representative model.

No
Your diabetes can be managed without medicines by lifestyle changes and diet
do not believe advts on TV and magazines. And also what ever your Dr. says do not blindly follow question your Dr. about non drug therapies to reduce sugar .The drs are not trained in nutrition and they work have vested interest in getting commission from drug companies, hospitals,labs and scan centres get educated and never medicated take a consult if you want to know the natural food and other supplements used to reduce blood sugar naturally without side effects.
Any disease which can be treated by diet should not be treated otherwise.

Many congratulations to you for being a cancer survivor. Many a time, alopecia (hair loss) can be a permanent side effect of the chemotherapy (or BMT) given to treat blood cancer. I suggest you consult a dermatologist with expertise in dealing with hair loss disorders to find a possible remedy. Wishing you a healthy and fruitful life ahead.